Brazil vs Switzerland, World Cup 2018: Steven Zuber heads home to hold tournament favourites
Brazil 1-1 Switzerland: Philippe Coutinho opened the scoring with a sensational curling strike but Zuber headed home to ensure the shares were spoiled
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Your support makes all the difference.Reports of Brazil’s revival, evidently, have been greatly exaggerated. The team that had been talked up as outstanding favourites for this World Cup instead just looked out of sorts: full of holes, and very far from the full product.
A defiant Switzerland deserve huge praise for coming from behind after Philippe Coutinho’s wonder goal to claim a 1-1 draw—Steven Zuber only adding to the sense of satisfaction by making up for his weak headed error with a thunderous headed equaliser -- but Vladimir Petkovic’s team arguably deserved more. They quickly realised there wasn’t actually much to this Brazil - in this match at least - and also brought a game that showed Neymar is going to have to very quickly realise this is a team sport.
He might not be fully fit, but that made it all the more questionable as to why Tite didn’t take him off, such was the wasteful self-indulgence of a ponderous personal performance. That played a significant part in an unconvincing team performance, but there was more to it than that. Or, if you like, less. Other than an admittedly strong opening spell, there was just none of the strength or ruthlessness that were supposed to be signature qualities of this new Brazil.
There were instead some old problems, not least a flakiness Tite was supposed to banish. That opening spell peaked with Coutinho’s stunning strike, but that was also the peak of Brazil’s entire performance, as it seemed to give way to complacency rather than the team properly taking command in the way they were supposed to. They just looked too pleased with themselves, something Switzerland were all too content to rectify with some robust play that Brazil often weren’t able to live with.
Brazil might complain about two decisions that went against them - a Zuber push on Miranda and a potential Gabriel Jesus penalty - but they should look to themselves more than the ref. They just weren’t on it in any way.
That went against expectation, just like so much else in this game, other than the manner of Coutinho’s opener.
That Brazil squandered that advantage should be all the more frustrating, not least because such fragility will mean all the talk of the effects of that 7-1 will creep in that more, will become that bit more of an issue hanging over the team.
It became the platform for a show of Swiss resolve rather than Brazilian recovery, not to mention Zuber’s redemption.
In most situations and with most players, the Hoffenheim attacker would have been confident that his defensive header on 20 minutes was enough to buy a little space; give Switzerland that bit more safety. Coutinho isn’t most players, though, and a long-range shot from him isn’t most situations.
It’s become his showpiece.
This strike was again special, but just another of the type.
How often have we seen him score this exact type of goal, where he cuts in from the left and curls a shot that starts way outside the post and so beautifully comes in?
In fact, how often has he wasted such opportunities or missed the target when sizing up? They’ve become almost like a penalty for him. It was revealing in itself that this was his first attempt.
Long-range efforts in general have become something of a trend at this World Cup, as this was the seventh in 11 games, and they - rightfully - haven’t been accompanied by any talk about the flight of the ball.
You certainly couldn’t say that was the reason for Coutinho scoring such a strike.
What you could say was that Brazil didn’t look the finished article in the manner that many had expected. There were long passages of play when they looked disconnected, and a lot of moments when evident flaws and gaping holes in the team presented themselves.
One of those was right in the centre of defence, and it should disturb Tite how easy it was for Switzerland to equalise.
Zuber making amends for his earlier error, and with another header, but one that Brazil made so much easier for him. The Hoffenheim attacker was almost completely free just outside the six-yard box to power in a Xherdan Shaqiri corner from close-range.
Brazil complained that the goal should have gone to VAR because of a push by Zuber on Miranda, but there really wasn’t much in it, like Brazil’s marking.
More gallingly than anything, that pinpointed how Tite’s team were a much lighter touch than anyone expected, too.
There were more than a few moments when a newly assertive Swiss side were bullying them, and Neymar seemed to personify Brazil in this way. It’s possible - and probably likely - that the team will grow as he gradually regains full fitness, but he also looked more off it here than had been talked about pre-game. Sensing that, too, the Swiss made life even harder for him. Stephan Lichtseiner was booked for a nasty grapple at his neck, Valon Behrami followed for a foul, and there was one worrying moment in the second half when he was left hobbling.
Neymar wasn’t helping himself either, mind, or his team for that matter. There were just too many passages of play where he totally slowed down what had been quick counter-attacks by taking too way much out of the ball. It’s fair to wonder whether that is influenced by how he’s so indulged at Paris Saint-Germain, because he was much more incisive at Barcelona.
This also summed up Brazil, though. The force, pace and power that had been so talked up before this World Cup pretty much disappeared after around half an hour, extinguished by their own complacency after a convincing initial 20 minutes, and Switzerland’s realisation that there wasn’t much to them.
Tite still has a lot of work to do, and maybe a battle to finish top of the group.
This was supposed to be a side with fight. Now they just have a fight.
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